Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-04-21
AN APRIL FOOL.
nv MARY R. p. HATCH

BY MARY r. p. HATCH
The Chester family kept, with suit.
able festivities, not only Thanksgiving.
Christmas, New Years, but Washing
toms Birthday, All-Fool's Day, Hal
lowe'en, and SO on straight through
the year.
They were fools once a year, if not
oftener, as Will said; and, to tell the
truth, the first of April was the mad
aest, merriest day" of the whole year
through for them.
Viewed from this standpoint, there
lore, it did not seem quite so imper-
tinently cruel to play a trick upon
Eva Atwood.
True, she was q stranger among
them almost, having lived in the Ches'
ter family but q few months, and
knew nothing or little Of their Gus,
toms; and the only, motherless
daughter OF a wealthy, indulgent gen.
tleman, residing in a great city, would
not be apt to know much of these
hilarious country pastimes. But, as
her cousin Belle said, contemptuously,
she might know, and there a no
earthly reason Why she should be ex,
smpted from a joke unless because
she was rich. And Belle curled her
lips in scorn.
Belle was discussing her plan with
her sister Annie and Cora Webster,
her friend.
1.-THE best of it is, Allison Fosters
initials are A. F., which stands for
April Fool, and then two other young
men OF our set have the same ones,
Albert Follonsby and Argur French"
said Belle, with animation.
But Eva does not know either Of
these" said Annie.
$50 much the better, goosie; but i
she learns of the joke she will have nc
one to blame only her W stupid
ity.
Can you write like Allison FOSTER
asked Cora.
Near enough to deceive her. ]
have lots of notes of his that can
study" z
"No doubt OF that" laughed Cora.
"Well don't chatter, and / will see
what | can do"
Belle sat down to her writing desk
and soon prod ICED the following note,
which she read to them:
"MY DEAR LITTLE Eva: You will, nc
doubt, be surprised to receive this note,
we have known each other so shorts time
but since the first evening we met / have
loved you.
And you, my darling, do You return
this love, the first snd only love OF my de
voted heart? Never answer this ii you dc
not respond to my love, for | could not
bear il; but make me happy by wearing a
,erauium leaf ia your hair the next time ]
come to the house. By his token / shall
know that you w me even as l love you,
Yours, devotedly, a. Z.
April i, 1856"
"Oh, myl won't it be funny to see
her going about with a geranium leaI
stuck in her hair, and he not to know
anything about it at all, and just us
three in the secret?" said Corathought'
leasly.
81 think it would be cruel" said
Annie Indignantly. al never realized
before how mean it would be; and she
o stranger among us, and the dearest
| little soul that ever breathed."
so you will tattle," said Belle
anerily.
mo, / won't tattle, but I wash my
hands of the whole affair" And
Annie walked of, but returned to say
significantly:
Have you thought, Belle, il Eva
doesn't wear the geranium leaf, that
it is a virtual refusal; and if you con.
sent to wear it you know what
mean1, you accept what she refuses
But to this Belle deigned no reply,
only to Cora she said, after her sister
left the room:
"Pshawl know she loves him."
what shall you do with the let
ter" A ~
Send it by post. Won't you droI
it in the Office as you go by?"
Eyes, but remember you must lei
me know when the play opens"
"Iil send for you" And the girls
separated; Cora to return home by
way of the p~ostofice, where she
dropped the letter, Belle to Join tn,
family downstairs
A lovely, sweet-faced young girl sal
on the sofa cutting paper dolls for lit
tie Isabel. Annie was reading, as was
her wont. Mrs. Chester was sewing
Just then in sauntered Will, who wa:
home from college for a few days.
"Well, cousin mine" said he, sittin.
down beside Eva, ''are you ready
primed for the first of April9"
why, what ONE them" asked
she.
Surprises" said he solemnly; $50
instance, if you wished to present m,
with your check for fifty THOUSAND
dollars, tomorrow would be Just TIN
day to do it. l should be surprised
at that"
so should J." said she demurely
with dimples lurking in her cheeks.
1.-THE children are up to all kinds o
games the first of April, dear, sai(
Mrs. Chester, smiling. Don't le
them torment YOU"
By Wills explanation she imagined
it to be a day OF surprises after tn,
style of Christmas, only with NOR,
secrecy, and she thought it a goot
tina to make each of her cousins an,
her aunt a suitable present.
Her father was very wealthy. and
at her request, only a week before ha,
sent her some gifts which she waitet
but "a suitable opportunity to be
stow.
Mr.. Atwood had sent his dauphte
to reside in Wilmot with her aun
because she was delicate, and h
honed the country, or vo,Id Il. =